We blog about career trends, the future job market, and higher education in Minnesota.

Month: January 2012

Navigating the college financial aid process can seem daunting if you’re an adult learner enrolling in college for the first time or heading back to get more training or finish a degree. A key point to keep in mind is that there is no age limit for federal and state financial aid. There are, however, other things that affect how much and which financial aid you might be eligible to receive:

In our work as field representatives for the Apprenticeship Unit at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), we often get phone calls from job seekers who would like to work as an apprentice in an occupation they are interested in. A registered apprenticeship is a way for you to earn a wage and learn the skills required to be competent in a specific field.

When we receive this kind of call, we first look to see if an apprenticeship program for that occupation exists in Minnesota. Continue reading →

A previous blog entry provided an introduction to the hidden job market and the reasons why some jobs might not be advertised. In fact, there is good evidence to suggest that the hidden job market represents a significant portion of available jobs in Minnesota. If this is the case, how do you uncover the hidden job market?

There are a lot of things that can go wrong in the job hunting process. Some are out of your control and can cost you an interview or a potential job offer. But there are three mistakes that you can easily fix.Continue reading →

As job growth spread across the state (see “Job Growth Returned for Many Regions, Counties Over the Last Year”), the number of job vacancies also increased in every region over the last year. In fact, four of the six state planning regions saw at least a 50 percent growth in the number of job vacancies reported by businesses from the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011. (See Table 1.)

As job growth spread across the state (see “Job Growth Returned for Many Regions, Counties Over the Last Year”), the number of job vacancies also increased in every region over the last year. In fact, four of the six state planning regions saw at least a 50 percent growth in the number of job vacancies reported by businesses from the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011. (See Table 1.)

Keeping a commercial building running smoothly and efficiently requires a lot of different skill sets. And it’s not just about fixing things. Building maintenance operators monitor and control systems in the building—everything from electrical to heating and cooling to plumbing. Computer energy management systems and digital controls have replaced older, inefficient systems. It’s vital for operators to be able to troubleshoot and keep up with changing technology.

Many employers find workers without posting a job online. In fact, it’s often estimated that 80 percent (or more) of jobs are never advertised. This is called the hidden job market. The term hidden doesn’t mean the jobs are necessarily a secret or that the employer doesn’t want you to know they have an opening. Rather, if you’re job search strategy is to only check online job boards, you may be missing out.